A working group has met for the first time to prepare a feasibility study examining the potential for a direct Caledonian Sleeper service to mainland Europe. The group, comprising representatives from Transport Scotland, Scottish Rail Holdings and Caledonian Sleeper, will explore the ‘technical and commercial opportunities and challenges associated with extending

The rules about 16-17 Railcards have been changed, so that they give young people a longer period of half-price travel. Until now, these Railcards had expired when the holder reached the age of 18, but from 17 August the cards will be valid for a year after purchase, even if they

A new station was officially opened in Devon on 31 July, and trains started calling the following day.  Okehampton Interchange is on the outskirts of the town, where the new £18 million station has a 200-space car park, sheltered cycle storage and a covered bus interchange, with electric vehicle charging points

HS2 Ltd has renegotiated two major contracts in a bid to reduce the costs of the project. New contracts have been signed with EKFB and Align which account for more than 100km of the HS2 route between London and the West Midlands between them. EKFB, which is a joint venture of Eiffage,

The RMT has called its 70 members at Manchester Piccadilly who work for Avanti West Coast out on strike again, in a dispute over the allegedly unfair dismissal of one of their colleagues. The 24-hour walkouts are set to be staged on 1 and 29 August, and again on 10 October. The

Trains have returned to a south Devon station which was badly damaged by fire on 21 July. Three boys were arrested on suspicion of arson at Paignton station, and have been given conditional bail, but the line was closed between Torquay and Paignton while repairs and safety checks were carried out. Trains

The Office of Rail and Road has revealed details of how it will cope with railway reforms, and is inviting views before a formal consultation is launched later this year. The creation of Great British Railways will end the need for contracted National Rail operators to have individual licences, but there

The Devon holiday resort of Paignton could be without trains during the start of this year’s peak summer season, after the station was badly damaged by a fire. Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service said the cause was suspicious, and three boys aged 13, 15 and 16 have been arrested

Network Rail has imposed speed restrictions on some lines in the east of England, after prolonged dry weather caused the soil under the railway to shrink. Engineering work to repair the uneven railway which results will be causing some timetable changes from early August. King’s Lynn trains will be four minutes later

The RMT is to stage protest strikes at East Midlands Railway on the first three Saturdays in August as the operator continues to struggle with problems affecting its fleet of new Class 810 Aurora trains, built by Hitachi. EMR has cut back its intercity and regional services so that the number